US aluminium market shifts: Malaysia's imports surge to commanding 41% of exports by Sept 2023

Malaysia is a major aluminium importer from the United States. In 2022, the country accounted for 17 per cent of the United States aluminium crude metals and alloys exports and 20 per cent of the United States aluminium scrap exports.

Till September 2023, Malaysia accounted for 41 per cent of the United States aluminium crude metals and alloys exports and 17 per cent of the latter’s aluminium scrap exports. The data indicates that Malaysia’s aluminium crude metals and alloys imports from the United States have grown magnificently this year.

Malaysia’s aluminium crude metals and alloys imports

Rightly so, Malaysia’s crude metals and alloys imports from the US in September 2023 recorded a skyrocketing high on an annual basis by over 200 per cent from 6,180 tonnes to 18,800 tonnes. On a month-on-month calculation, Malaysia’s imports in September stood 800 tonnes higher than 18,000 tonnes.

 From January to September, Malaysia imported 133,000 tonnes of aluminium crude metals and alloys, up by 323.57 per cent from 31,400 tonnes during the corresponding period of the previous year.

Aluminium scrap imports

On the other hand, Malaysia’s aluminium scrap imports from the US decreased in September on a month-on-month basis as well as a year-on-year basis. According to the US Census Bureau data, Malaysia’s aluminium scrap imports from the US dipped by 2.27 per cent M-o-M in September to stand at 25,800 tonnes. That was an extended decline, following a downfall of 7.04 per cent in August from 28,400 tonnes to 26,400 tonnes.

In the third quarter of 2023, Malaysia imported 80,600 tonnes of aluminium scrap from the United States versus 88,500 tonnes in Q2. That indicated a quarter-on-quarter fall of 8.93 per cent in Malaysia’s aluminium scrap imports from the US.

On a year-on-year calculation, Malaysia’s aluminium scrap imports from the US in September 2023 edged a sharp fall of 38.6 per cent from 42,000 tonnes.  

In total three quarters, Malaysia imported 269,000 tonnes of aluminium scrap from the US, which reflected a decline of 7.56 per cent from 291,000 tonnes.

US aluminium crude metals exports vs scrap exports

According to the US Census Bureau data, the United States aluminium crude metals and alloys exports in September 2023 amounted to 40,300 tonnes, up by 58 per cent from 25,500 tonnes a year ago. Aluminium scrap exports also increased year-on-year in September 2023 amounting to 180,000 tonnes, up by 5.88 per cent from 170,000 tonnes.